The captive was not taken back to prison-chamber which she had occupied during the preceding night, but to an apartment in the palace--one belonging to the suite1 appropriated to Pollux. She was confined within a room so luxurious2, that, save from the door being fastened to prevent her exit, and there being no possibility of escaping through the latticed window, Zarah could scarcely have realized that she was a prisoner still. The floor of the apartment was inlaid with costly3 marbles; on the walls were depicted4 scenes taken from mythological5 subjects; luxurious divans6 invited to repose8; and vases, wreathed with brilliant flowers and filled with rose-water, were surrounded by others loaded with a profusion9 of fruit and a variety of dainties. The young Hebrew maiden10, accustomed to the simplicity11 of Hadassah's humble12 home, gazed around in wonder.
When left alone by the guards, the first impulse of the captive was to kneel and return thanks to her heavenly Protector for the merciful respite13 granted to her. Zarah was young, and hope was strong within her. What might not happen in the space of twenty-four hours to effect complete deliverance! She then laved her face, hands, and arms, and the tresses of her long hair, in the cool, fragrant14 water, and found great refreshment15 from her ablutions. It was then with a sense of enjoyment16, at which she herself was surprised, that Zarah partook of the fruit before her. Nature had been almost exhausted17, not only by the terrible excitement and alarm which the maiden had had to endure, but by sleeplessness18 and abstinence from food. Coarse bread had indeed been brought to her in her prison, but had remained untouched, not only because the poor captive had had no appetite for eating, but because the bread, being leavened19, was not at that season lawful20 food for a Jewess. Zarah now carefully abstained21 from any part of the collation22 which she deemed might contain anything which Moses had judged unclean, and chiefly partook of the fruits, which were pure, as God Himself had made them, and which were, of all kinds of food, that most refreshing23 to her parched24 and burning lips.
"How good is my Lord, to spread a table for me thus in this wilderness25 of trial!" murmured Zarah; and she felt much as the Israelites must have felt when they first saw the glistening26 bread of heaven lying on the face of the desert. The maiden's spirit was soothed27 and cheered, as well as her frame refreshed; and, reclining on one of the luxurious divans, she was able with tolerable calmness to review the exciting events of the day.
"How thankful I am that, with all my cowardice28 and weakness, I was preserved by my Lord from doing anything very wicked!" thought Zarah. "I was not suffered either to betray my friends or to deny my God; and yet my faith almost failed me. I could scarcely endure the terror: how could I endure the pain? But will not He who supported me under the one sustain me also through the other, if I must die for my faith to-morrow before that terrible king? I will not weary myself by thinking; I will just trust all to my God. It is so sweet to rest in His love, like a babe on her mother's bosom29."
Zarah lay perfectly30 still for some time, letting her overstrained nerves regain31 their usual tone. It was such a comfort to be quite alone, with no sound to disturb save the cooing of doves from a garden which separated the palace of Epiphanes from Mount Zion.
The young captive then arose, went to the lattice, and looked forth32. Pleasant to the sight was the rich foliage33 of the juniper and acacia, the terebinth and the palm, the orange, almond, and citron, watered from marble-bordered tanks by artificial irrigation, which counteracted34 the effects of a season sultry and dry. Here and there fountains threw up their sparkling waters, transformed to diamonds in the sun. But the eyes of the maid of Judah wandered beyond this paradise of beauty, created for the pleasure of a tyrant35, and rested on the holy Mount and the sacred Temple on its summit. If the very stones, nay36, the dust, of Jerusalem have an interest to Gentile strangers, with what feelings must a child of Abraham regard the spot on which the Temple was reared! As Zarah gazed on the holy pile before her, words of Scripture37 came into the mind of Hadassah's grand-daughter, which filled her with a joy which was indeed nourished by the dew of heavenly hope, but had its root in earthly affection. Slowly and emphatically Zarah repeated to herself: "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant38; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful39 in My house of prayer: for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people" (Isa. lvi. 6, 7).
"Oh, blessed promise!" exclaimed Zarah. "Israel has been, like Joseph, the chosen amongst many brethren, to wear the many-coloured robe prepared by his Father, and to go first, through bondage40 and tribulation41, to dignity and honour. But his brethren are not forgotten: he shall yet be a blessing42 to them all, even to them who have hated and sold him. Through Israel shall light spread throughout the dark world, and with the bread of life shall the hungry nations be fed."
Zarah was interrupted in her musings by the entrance of Nubian slaves, who silently replenished43 the vases, lighted silver lamps as the day was closing, placed rich garments upon the divan7, and then retired44 from her presence. Their coming had caused a flutter in the timid heart of the captive; and it was a relief when they had left her again to that solitude45 which scarcely seemed to be loneliness, so sweet were the thoughts which had been her companions. Zarah went up to the divan, and looked admiringly on the silken robes and richly-embroidered46 veil.
"These are meant for my wear," said the maiden; "but I will not touch them. The Gentiles would allure47 me, as the serpent allured48 Eve our mother, by the lust49 of the eyes and the pride of life. Embroidered robes are not for the prisoner, nor silver zone for the martyr50. This simple blue garment, spun51 and woven by my own hands, is good enough to die in."
Zarah watched the sun as it sank beneath the western horizon, its last beams lingering on the pinnacles52 of the Temple.
"Perhaps this will be my last evening on earth," thought the prisoner. "Ere the sun set again, I may have entered into eternal rest." A deep sense of holy peace stole into the maiden's heart, though the expression of her beautiful countenance53 was pensive54 as she meditated55 on the future. "I shall no more join in worship with my brethren below; but perhaps, while they gather together in secret, with perils56 around them, my eyes shall see the King in His beauty, shall behold57 the land that is very far off. And will not He for whom I die hear now my feeble prayers for those whom I leave behind? Never have I felt that I could plead with such child-like confidence before Him as I do now; praying not only for myself, but for those who are dearer than self. Oh, may the Lord hear, and graciously answer, the supplications of His child!"
Zarah knelt down, and poured out her simple Prayer. First, she besought59 God for Hadassah; that He would comfort the bereaved60 one, grant her rest from her tribulation, and give her the desire of her heart. Tears mingled61 with this prayer, as Zarah thought of the desolation to which the aged62 widow was left. "Let her not weep long for me," murmured the maiden; "and oh, never let her want a loving one to tend her in sickness and comfort her in sorrow, better than I could have done." The Hebrew girl then prayed for her country, and for those who were fighting for its freedom; especially for Judas Maccabeus, that God would be his shield and defender63, and cover his head in the day of battle. Zarah forgot not her unknown father. She now pleaded for him more fervently64 than she had ever pleaded before; and, by some mysterious connection in her mind, thoughts of her lost parent linked themselves to remembrance of the generous courtier to whose intercession she had owed her present respite from torture and death. The young prisoner implored66 her Lord not to let the Syrian suffer for his kindness to a stranger, but to requite67 it sevenfold into his own bosom.
Zarah did not yet rise from her knees. Her supplications became yet more fervent65 as she prayed for another, dearest of all. No fear of displeasing68 God now marred69 the comfort which the maiden found in supplication58 for a Gentile. It was not sinful, she thought, for the dying to love. Her misery70 might be the means which God would deign71 to employ in winning Lycidas from the errors of idolatrous worship. She might be permitted, as it were to beckon72 to her beloved from the other side of the grave.
Zarah arose from her devotions feeling almost happy. It seemed to her as if the worst bitterness of death were already passed. She again partook, with a thankful spirit, of needful refreshment, and afterwards laid herself down to rest. The prisoner had had no refreshing sleep during the preceding terrible night, and now her eyelids73 were heavy. Soft slumber74 stole over Zarah, as the Psalmist's words were on her lips, I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
收听单词发音 |
1
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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mythological
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| adj.神话的 | |
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divans
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| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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sleeplessness
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| n.失眠，警觉 | |
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leavened
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| adj.加酵母的v.使（面团）发酵( leaven的过去式和过去分词 )；在…中掺入改变的因素 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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collation
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| n.便餐；整理 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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counteracted
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| 对抗，抵消( counteract的过去式 ) | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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allure
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| n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引 | |
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allured
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| 诱引，吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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52
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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53
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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59
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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requite
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| v.报酬，报答 | |
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displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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73
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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